How To Clean Your Engine Bay

Unlike a car’s exterior, which we regularly wash, engine bays aren’t pampered nearly as much. Without attention, that dirt, debris, and oil can gunk up your car’s workings, potentially start a fire, and cause engine, steering, and suspension issues. That’s why The Drive’s info team suggests popping the hood, grabbing the hose, and going to town on your car’s engine bay every time you wash your car’s paint. For those who’ve never washed a car’s engine bay before, don’t worry—we’ll walk you through it. Follow our steps, and your ride will come out the other side looking fresh and clean.

Estimated Time Needed: 30 minutes

Skill Level: Beginner

Vehicle System: Engine

Here’s a list of common spills and splatters you’ll find in an engine bay as curated by The Drive’s editors based on their decades of experience.

The most common spill or splatter is dirt and mud. Puddles, off-road adventures, and the daily dirt and debris you encounter have a habit of entering your engine bay.

Engine oil can seep out around gaskets, explode from hoses, and spill across the top of the engine when you’re doing an oil change. Oils can also be thrown up into the engine bay from the ground.

As with engine oil, transmission fluid has the potential to spray across the engine bay if something catastrophic happens. That said, if you see a big spray of transmission fluid, you likely have bigger worries than a clean engine bay. 

Because the brake master cylinder is mounted near the top of the engine on most cars, spills and splatters can quickly dirty an engine bay.

We’ve all been there when a radiator overheats, blows its top, and shoots scalding coolant over the piping-hot engine bay. Steam and the fluorescent liquid erupt, and the bay looks like you just murdered an alien.

We’re not psychic, nor are we snooping through your toolbox or garage, so here’s exactly what you’ll need to get the job done. 

Organizing your tools and gear so everything is easily reachable will save precious minutes waiting for your handy-dandy child or four-legged helper to bring you the sandpaper or blowtorch. (You won't need a blowtorch for this job. Please don’t have your kid hand you a blowtorch—Ed.)

You’ll also need a flat workspace, such as a garage floor, driveway, or street parking that’s also well-ventilated. Check your local laws to make sure you’re not violating any codes when using the street because we aren’t getting your ride out of the clink.

Cleaning your engine bay is all about how detailed you want to go. And by all means, go as deep into every crevice and cranny as you’d like. There’s always more hidden dirt and leftover oil. But to get you started, here’s The Drive’s guide for how to clean your engine bay. 

The Drive’s editors have washed countless rides over the years, and we’ve picked up a handful of pro tips along the way. Lucky for you, we’re in a sharing mood. 

When you’re tackling the process of cleaning your car’s engine bay for the first time, it’s a good idea to get a sense of how to handle different kinds of dirt, debris, and filth before you actually get your hands dirty. From helpful products to the right technique, you’ll want to check out a sneak peek of what awaits. 

That’s why we picked Chemical Guys’ guide on how to clean your vehicle’s engine bay. With diluted cleaning solution and a pressure washer, you’ll learn how to get the components in your engine bay sparkling clean and how to protect the more sensitive parts from getting wet or soaked with cleaning solution.

You’ve got questions, The Drive’s info team has answers! 

A: Almost nothing. All you’ll need is a hose and some soap. You’ll maybe spend $15-$20 altogether.

A: Your engine bay is always getting wet from the pouring rain, water puddles, or because you need to get across an overflowing river. (Don’t try that, Ms. Oregon Trail.) It’s fine to wash your engine—just be careful where and how close you use the pressure washer. Always dial the pressure down to prevent damaging plugs or tearing things off.

A: You absolutely can. However, you do need to pay attention to the pressure. If it’s too high, you could damage your engine’s hoses, wires, and other parts that aren’t metal. If you see something dangling or loose while you’re using it, stop.

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